#PeriodPaath: Are We Safe And Sound During Menstruation?

Editor’s Note: This post is an entry for the #Periodपाठ writing contest, a unique opportunity for you to write a letter and stand a chance of winning up to ₹30,000! The contest is organised by Youth Ki Awaaz in collaboration with WSSCC. Find out more here and submit your entry!

Editor’s Note: This post is an entry for the #Periodपाठ writing contest, a unique opportunity for you to write a letter and stand a chance of winning up to ₹30,000! The contest is organised by Youth Ki Awaaz in collaboration with WSSCC. Find out more here and submit your entry!

Matters related to menstruation have been a taboo in India for a long time. India is known as a country of temples and many famous temples are situated on top of hills, which can be reached after crossing some dense forests. Since, there used be lack of resources to deal with menstrual flow in ancient days and carnivorous animals could attack women smelling their blood during menstruation, women used to be prevented from entering such places during those days. That logic is pretty much understood.

However, what I don’t understand is, even after women have dominated almost all the spheres of life, a section of people still considers menstruation as a taboo and in some places women are stopped from doing their day to day chores out of some superstitious beliefs.

In a patriarchy like India, women have always been expected to be suppressive in many regions. This might be one of the many excuses to prevent a woman from participating in certain areas as a shadow of some dominant force over their free will. Poverty is another considerable reason behind issues related to menstrual hygiene. In a country, where more than sixty percent of people have to struggle to earn their daily needs, it becomes difficult to spend hundreds of rupree for buying mentrual hygiene kits.

After a survey and years of observation, I have been able to opine that although the country is thriving in infrastructure or in many superficial arenas, there is still a large part of people, which despite being financially independent and academically qualified is yet to be emotionally matured, because of which they easily fall prey to superstitious beliefs, out of which sometimes they don’t even hesitate to be abusive towards people they feel are less stronger than them physically. The root of many diseases is known to be the non maintenance of proper menatrual hygiene as well.

I strongly believe that many prevelent evil regarding mentruation can be eradicated through proper awareness.

Hence It is my earnest appeal to the concerned department to create awareness around the nook and corners of the country about the importance of menstrual hygiene. I also appeal free distribution of mentrual hygiene kits by government at the healthcare units of the country.